Fifty years a local preacher, Mr. Thomas Surridge, of Rushden, has preached 1,089 sermons in the churches of the district.

Mr. Surridge’s remarkable service to non-conformity was recognised on Saturday at the quarterly meeting of the Wellingboro’ Wesleyan Reform Circuit, when Mr. W.G. Lack, who presided, presented the veteran layman with a gift of £15 13s., betokening the appreciation and affection of the whole circuit.

Something More Than Human

Mr. Lack said they wished to pay a tribute of respect to Brother Surridge, who would very soon complete fifty years as a local preacher. He had listened to Mr. Surridge with profit, but the inspiration was not altogether from the words spoken, but in the life lived and the faith displayed in times of sickness, adversity, and bereavement. To witness the world for that number of years was proof that at the back of such a life was something more than human.

Mr. F. Wooding (Bozeat) spoke of the respect in which he had held Mr. Surridge for many years. Mr. John Spencer, J.P., who has been associated with Mr. Surridge for forty years, said he had been a great help to the mission church at Rushden, always doing all he could for the young people and the older ones also. The Rev. E.E. Bromage, pastor of the Rushden Church, said he looked to Mr. Surridge and respected him as a father in Israel.

Joined The Church In 1861

In his reply, Mr. Surridge expressed sincere thanks for the gift, saying he appreciated the love and affection even more than the money. He recalled that he joined the Church at Bozeat in 1861, and attended his first quarter meeting at Bozeat in 1881. In the early days of his preaching career it was necessary to walk long distances to the village churches, often in the worst of weather.

He had preached in the circuit and district 1,089 sermons, and had served on the General Committee of the Wesleyan Reform Union for six years. From the commencement of the Wellingborough-road Mission he had held office there, and had been president ever since the death of Mr. John Clark.

Work Done

Other business at the meeting included the receipt of encouraging reports from the ministers and representatives. At Bozeat it was stated, on organ had been installed at a cost of £150 and paid for; the congregation at Finedon had renovated their church at a cost of £160, the whole of which had been raised; and a new school was to be erected at Wymington. The accounts for the quarter showed a balance in hand.

The preachers’ meeting, held in the afternoon, was attended by the Revs. J. Sinfield (circuit minister), C. J. Keeler, and E. E. Bromage (Rushden). Mr. A. Greaves, of the Wellingborough-road Mission, Rushden, was received on probation as a preacher.

Fifty years a local preacher, Mr. Thomas Surridge, of Rushden, has preached 1,089 sermons in the churches of the district.

Mr. Surridge’s remarkable service to Nonconformity was recognised on Saturday at the quarterly meeting of the Wellingborough Wesleyan Reform Circuit, when Mr. W. G. Lack, who presided, presented the veteran lay-man with a gift of £15 13s. 3d., betokening the appreciation and the affection of the whole circuit.

Mr. Lack said they wished to pay a tribute of respect to Brother Surridge, who would very soon complete fifty years as a local preacher. He had listened to Mr. Surridge with profit, but the inspiration was not altogether from the words spoken, but in the life lived and the faith displayed in times of sickness, adversity and bereavement. To witness to the world for that number of years was proof that at the back of such a life was something more than human.

Mr. F. Wooding (Bozeat) spoke of the respect in which he had held Mr. Surridge for many years. Mr. John Spencer, J.P., who has been associated with Mr. Surridge for forty years, said he had been a great help to the Mission Church at Rushden, always doing all he could for the young people and the older ones also.

The Rev. E. E. Bromage, pastor of the Rushden church, said he looked to Mr. Surridge and respected him as a father in Israel.

In his reply Mr. Surridge expressed sincere thanks for the gift, saying he appreciated the love and affection even more than the money. He recalled that he joined the church at Bozeat in 1861 and attended his first quarterly meeting at Bozeat in 1881. In the early days of his preaching career it was necessary to walk long distances to the village churches, often in the worst of weather. He had preached in the circuit and district 1,089 sermons, and had served on the General Committee of the Wesleyan Reform Union for six years. From the commencement of the Wellingborough-road Mission he had held office there, and had been president ever since the death of Mr. John Clark.

Other business at the circuit meeting included the receipt of encouraging reports from the minsters and representatives. At Bozeat, it was stated, an organ had been installed at a cost of £150 and paid for; the friends at Finedon had renovated their church at a cost of £160, the whole of which had been raised; and a new school was to be erected at Wymington. The accounts for the quarter showed a balance in hand.

The preachers’ meeting, held in the afternoon was attended by the Revs. J. Sinfield (circuit minister), C. J. Keeler and E. E. Bromage (Rushden). Mr. A. Greaves, of the Wellingborough-road Mission, Rushden, was received on probation as a preacher.